Melones (Spanish for "Melons") is a former settlement in Calaveras County, California, now submerged beneath a reservoir named New Melones Lake. It lay at an elevation of 955 feet (291 m). Melones was founded on the site of a ferry operated from 1848 by John W. Robinson and Stephen Mead. The town initially took its name from the ferry.[2]
The first post office opened in Robinsons Ferry in 1879, the name was changed to Robinson's in 1895, and to Melones in 1902.[2] The post office was closed in 1932, re-established in 1933 and closed for good in 1942.[2]
In January 1923 Paramount Pictures chose Melones to construct a complete 1849 mining camp set there for the motion picture The Covered Wagon. The studio sent an authentic Sierra Railroad train built in 1897 to the location via the Angels Branch line to Melones.[citation needed]
The site was submerged under New Melones Lake when the New Melones Dam finished construction and began to fill in April 1, 1978.
Referencesedit
^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Melones, California
^ abcDurham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 801. ISBN1-884995-14-4.
External linksedit
Robinson's Ferry, Angels Camp, Cal., In E. F. Mueller Postcard Collection. "The Goodloe & Barden Drug Co."-on front. View of Robinson's Ferry on the Stanislaus River in Calaveras County. from calisphere.org California State Library, accessed September 22, 2018.
View of Robinson's Ferry landing at the Stanislaus River in Melones, ca.1930, Photographer: Pierce, C.C. (Charles C.), 1861-1946, from cdm15799.contentdm.oclc.org Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California, accessed September 22, 2018. Photograph of a view of Robinson's Ferry landing at the Stanislaus River in Melones, ca.1930. A wooden bridge extends from the dirt bank in the foreground to the other side of the riverbed. At the edge of the plank in center a staircase leads down to the ground through a wooden frame. At the bottom of the stairs there is a small trail of sunshine that is allowed through the shade that the tall trees on the right provide. A bend of the river can be seen on the left with banks of dirt and weeds. A hillside covered in trees and bushes can be seen in the background. "Ferry began operation in 1849 but is no longer used as the river has changed its course and a bridge has been built."
Robinson's Ferry from hmdb.org THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE, accessed September 22, 2018.
melones, california, town, formerly, called, melones, carson, hill, california, melones, spanish, melons, former, settlement, calaveras, county, california, submerged, beneath, reservoir, named, melones, lake, elevation, feet, melones, founded, site, ferry, op. For the town formerly called Melones see Carson Hill California Melones Spanish for Melons is a former settlement in Calaveras County California now submerged beneath a reservoir named New Melones Lake It lay at an elevation of 955 feet 291 m Melones was founded on the site of a ferry operated from 1848 by John W Robinson and Stephen Mead The town initially took its name from the ferry 2 MelonesFormer settlementMelonesLocation in CaliforniaCoordinates 38 00 45 N 120 29 55 W 38 01250 N 120 49861 W 38 01250 120 49861CountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaCountyCalaveras CountyElevation 1 955 ft 291 m History editThe first post office opened in Robinsons Ferry in 1879 the name was changed to Robinson s in 1895 and to Melones in 1902 2 The post office was closed in 1932 re established in 1933 and closed for good in 1942 2 In January 1923 Paramount Pictures chose Melones to construct a complete 1849 mining camp set there for the motion picture The Covered Wagon The studio sent an authentic Sierra Railroad train built in 1897 to the location via the Angels Branch line to Melones citation needed The site was submerged under New Melones Lake when the New Melones Dam finished construction and began to fill in April 1 1978 References edit U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Melones California a b c Durham David L 1998 California s Geographic Names A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State Clovis Calif Word Dancer Press p 801 ISBN 1 884995 14 4 External links editRobinson s Ferry Angels Camp Cal In E F Mueller Postcard Collection The Goodloe amp Barden Drug Co on front View of Robinson s Ferry on the Stanislaus River in Calaveras County from calisphere org California State Library accessed September 22 2018 View of Robinson s Ferry landing at the Stanislaus River in Melones ca 1930 Photographer Pierce C C Charles C 1861 1946 from cdm15799 contentdm oclc org Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California accessed September 22 2018 Photograph of a view of Robinson s Ferry landing at the Stanislaus River in Melones ca 1930 A wooden bridge extends from the dirt bank in the foreground to the other side of the riverbed At the edge of the plank in center a staircase leads down to the ground through a wooden frame At the bottom of the stairs there is a small trail of sunshine that is allowed through the shade that the tall trees on the right provide A bend of the river can be seen on the left with banks of dirt and weeds A hillside covered in trees and bushes can be seen in the background Ferry began operation in 1849 but is no longer used as the river has changed its course and a bridge has been built Robinson s Ferry from hmdb org THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE accessed September 22 2018 38 00 45 N 120 29 55 W 38 01250 N 120 49861 W 38 01250 120 49861 nbsp This Calaveras County California related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melones California amp oldid 1179875559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
